TARE Project Officer at Mercy Corps

Reference Number: ABV/NEPRGM/2018/00002
Location: Abuja with at least 60% travel to project locations
Position Status: Full-time, Regular
Salary: Level 4

Program/Department Summary

• Within the Conflict Management Programs portfolio Mercy Corps implemented a UKAID-funded program called Conciliation in Nigeria through Community-Based Conflict Management and Cooperative Use of Resources (CONCUR), the Ford Foundation-funded Future of Youth in Norther Nigeria project, and is currently implementing the GHR Foundation-funded Inter-Religious Peacebuilding in Northern Nigerian (IPNN) project, the USAID-funded Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN) project, and the UKAID-funded Youth Stabilization Initiative for Borno (YOU-SB) project.
• Supporting Harmonious Association, Religious Participation and Engagement for Northern Nigeria (TARE, which stands for “together” in Hausa), will be implemented in three Northern Nigerian states: Borno, Kaduna and Plateau.

TARE will strategically build on the past four years of the IPNN Program to:

• Enhance the capacity of faith-based organizations and institutions to engage communities of different faiths in peacebuilding efforts,
• Strengthen the capacity of religious leaders and create a platform for inter-faith negotiations across Christian, Sunni and Shia communities in Kaduna,
• Complement PVE programing in Borno through supporting religious leaders to prevent youth participation in extremist activities through community-level and formal governance activities, and
• Compare and disseminate analysis on the integration of religious leaders and faith-based organizations in peacebuilding.
• TARE is designed for comparative analysis of three approaches to peacebuilding and will partner with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in three distinct ways to assess the:
• Role of faith-based organizations and institutions in peacebuilding
• Role of religious leaders in countering violent extremism
• Role of religious leaders in peacebuilding.

General Position Summary

• The Project Officer will support the implementation of activities related to capacity building for religious leaders and religious institutions, facilitation and implementation of joint PVE plans, and the facilitation of events related to advocacy initiatives.
• The Project Officer will also provide support to all other activities related to the GHR-funded TARE program, and will ensure smooth, timely, and compliant implementation.
• The Project Officer will liaise frequently with implementing partners, community members, religious leaders, and represent Mercy Corps at relevant meetings.

The Project Officer will be responsible for the following activities across the three states:
Program Support:

• Support technical aspects of inter-religious peacebuilding and conflict management program by assisting with the development of activities/agendas/curricula related to peacebuilding.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate community meetings, events, and trainings as required.
• Ensure implementation of activities is on time, target and budget.
• Liaise with TARE partner organizations and potential resource persons as needed.
• Support the Project Manager in overseeing the performance of project implementation by partners, and conduct frequent field visits to project sites.
• Maintain links with religious leaders and faith-based organizations, and keep up-to-date records of best practices around conflict management and peacebuilding strategies.
• In collaboration with M&E staff, implement relevant surveys, needs assessments, data and information collection for on-going monitoring.
• Coordinate closely with other project staff to ensure all objectives of the proposal and activities are met.

Representation:

• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO, community meetings in close coordination with the Project Manager.
• Coordinate activities with implementing partners, local government representatives, religious leaders, other international and local organizations operating in the same geographic area, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs in Nigeria.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• M&E Intern

Accountability:

• Reports directly To Mercy Corps’ GHR-funded TARE Project Manager. Works Directly With other TARE technical and program staff, Mercy Corps program support departments and with implementing partners.

Requirements, Knowledge and Experience

• Fluency in Kanuri, Hausa and English.
• BA/S or equivalent in Conflict Management, Social Sciences, International Development or other relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the non-profit sector preferably on conflict management/peacebuilding and community development.
• Experience working in rural areas in Nigeria, particularly in target states of TARE.
• Experience working in a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Knowledge of Hausa is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Experience engaging with State and Local Government authorities, religious leaders and local partners.
• Experience managing community-based inter-religious peacebuilding and conflict management interventions.
• Strong training and capacity building experience.
• Deep understanding of the conflict dynamics in Northern Nigeria.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will be capable of multi-tasking, rapid decision-making, have initiative, drive and a lot of energy, as well as high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building.
• S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level.
• Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
• In particular, the successful candidate will be willing to travel to locations such as Dikwa and Ngala according to the needs of the Mercy Corps program. This will mean sometimes staying and working in stressful environments with very basic living conditions, strictly following security protocols at all times and sometimes working long and irregular hours.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.